Enchanting Spring Green Peridot Small Nugget Beads

Price is per 16-inch strand of these beautiful beads. All slightly different size/shape, but average largest bead measures 13mm x 6mm x 3mm.

Peridot (pronounced pair-a-doe) is the gem variety of Olivine, which is composed of two minerals favalite and forstente.

Peridot is perhaps derived from the French word peritot meaning unclear, due to its inclusions and cloudy nature. Peridot has been mined as a gemstone for at least four thousand years and is mentioned in the Bible under the Hebrew name of pitdah. Its also thought to be included in the fabled Breastplates of the Jewish High Priest. The Greeks and Romans called peridot topazion and topazius, the later called topaz, to end the confusion with the two gems. And legend tells that peridot was the favorite gemstone of Cleopatra.

Peridot has also been confused with emerald and many jewelers refer to it as "evening emerald. However, Peridot is a beautiful, widely popular gemstone in its own right.